In the meanwhile prepare the payload and ground equipment. Install fresh batteries into all systems; tracking; GPS radio beacon, photography; digital camera. Check charge and working condition on radio tracking receiver and other tracking gear. Check internet connectivity on laptop to tracking website (http://spacenear.us/tracker/). Look for callsign 'wb8elk'.

Asking HSIS team to come up with $80 that I'll hold on to until we retrieve my phone (and keep if we don't).

The Little Buddy or the Boost Mobile solution would be cheaper, and just as easy Omegix 15:23, 11 March 2010 (CST)

Opticron found his Boost Mobile Phone. This combined with a camera taking automated pictures and our electrical needs are met.

Cameras

Bender

8MP, $85. Confirmed that it works with the special firmware

7.1MP, $55. Confirmed that it works with the special firmware

Omegix

4MP, free. Will need CompactFlash memory if we want to find out about the firmware

1 Foam Cooler

Several Hot Hands

50 lb SpiderWire line.

Clear Packing Tape

Weather Balloons

Have two, 800 gram weather balloon from Nova Lynx. Gives a payload capacity of 2.5 lbs to 91,000 feet. Other smaller balloons are possible; a 500 gram balloon will bring a 2.5 lbs payload to 80,000 feet and a 300 gram will bring 1.3 lbs to 68,000 feet. Given that a contest rules state '[b]alloon camera must take pictures of the curvature of the earth with black space backdrop', and the minimum altitude to see the curvature of the Earth and the sky darken is 60,000 feet, the 300 gram balloon may barely be able to make a scoring flight.

Bill Brown gave the recommendation that there are margins in the balloon specs that could get us higher altitudes/heavier payloads (about 5%). We would have to handle the balloons carefully during preparation to keep these margins (gloved hands to keep off dirt, dust and oil, no excessive stress).

Lifting Gas - Helium

Preaux has a hookup at J&M cylinder in Decatur, AL:

"ok i got [hydrogren] for $19.85 for the fill and the bottle rental @ $6.50 for a month" ~preaux

"k-bottle i think will be TOO much, as it hold 489 cubic feet of hydrogen" ~preaux

For three flights of one 800 gram weather balloon each (inflated diameter of 6.2 feet and volume of 127.4 ft^3 from here), we will need 400 cubic feet of lifting gas (at 1 atm and 25 degrees centigrade, standard temperature and pressure). Preauxphoto said he will look into getting us enough gas. --Spacefelix 15:19, 24 March 2010 (CDT)

Safety Note:

For Helium, it is an inert gas, so no special safety precautions are required for its transport and storage.

For Helium, it is an inert gas, so no special safety precautions are required for its transport and storage. Hydrogen is flammable, so it must meet storage and transport safety standards for Argon gas (per Preauxphoto on 3/24/10). Omegix has also stated the people at Airgas said that there are no special safety requirements for transporting a K-bottle of hydrogen. Also, no more antics from the fire hooligans if we store hydrogen gas in the shop.

See more safety notes above on storing pressurized gas in cylinders.

On-Site Hydrogen Electrolysis = Cheap Hydrogen

Using a Hoffman Electrolysis Apparatus, it is possible to collect and pressurize hydrogen gas into the balloon by placing it over the tube of the cathode side of the device. The only danger would be static shock or balloon leaks/punctures that would release the hydrogen. A cheap way to make lifting gas at a low cost and avoid storage concerns.

Parachute (rocket model type) and streamers

Alternative is to build one from duct tape and garbage bags. Alternatively, one can heat seal multiple garbage bags or sheets of plastic material together using a heat sealer. Since they are the same material (either PETE or LDPE plastic sheet) as model rocket parachutes, we ought to be fine. Using this parachute calculator, we will need a 1152 in^2 square parachute to descend at a speed of 11 mph (maximum safe speed). This is the area given by two parachutes side-by-side using two halves of a 30 gallon garbage bag. --Spacefelix 15:19, 24 March 2010 (CDT)

Can replace by making lanyards and lines sufficiently long to allow the payload, parachute and balloon turn independently of each other and give some damping and springing action by the lines' natural elasticity.

GPS

Batteries (3 x D Cell)

Radar Reflector (Is this something we will make, or purchase?)

Can be a simple cardboard rose (two perpendicular discs) covered in aluminum foil.

Since balloon is light enough to not be under FAA Part 101 rules, we will not need a radar reflector.

Shock Cushion for Bottom of payload

Given we are only allowed a maximum descent speed of 11 mph, this eliminates the need for padding. Drop testing of the foam cooler loaded to 2 lbs on a concrete floor from 6 ft up with two 24"x24" parachutes did not damage it.

Radio or Cell Phone

Bubble Wrap

International Orange Streamer

Human Resources

Bill Brown

Bill Brown
has expressed interest in helping the project. He can provide balloons, lifting gas, a launch site (on a mountaintop near Hartselle), a ground station and some lightweight tracking payloads. All of it is for his company: High Altitude Research Corp. He invented the Near Space BalloonSat back in 1987. It was the first to take photos and videos in Near Space.

Recommendations

Tracking

Use his lightweight GPS and Ham Radio tracking payloads instead of the GPS cell phone method. He can provide us effective tracking methods that will fit our $150.00/vehicle build and launch cost.

Cell phone method has a 3 in 4 failure rate (from MIT's Team Icarus) since it cuts out at high altitudes and is unable to connect to multiple towers when descending from a high-altitude flight.

Hot Hands do not work at high altitudes as there is not enough oxygen in the local atmosphere to maintain their thermochemical reaction. Instead use solar thermal by wrapping payload in three layers of clear bubble wrap and launching during daytime.

Bought balloons for $20.00 each on eBay. Has receipt to prove it for costing.

Photography

Use the Canon PowerShot series hacked with CHDK (Canon Hacker Development Kit) software.

Competition Judge for Makers Local 256

Notes

Launch Site & Flight Considerations

Launch Site

Looking at the local airspaces and to minimize the chances of us colliding with aircraft, the recommended launch site would be from New Market, AL (34.91, -86.43).

Looking at UAH Space Hardware Club'sballoon launch, it seems this is not really that big of a concern since they launch directly under and fly through the C-Class airspace of Huntsville International Airport (HSV) and through E-class airspace of Redstone Army Airfield (HUA). I'm assuming this is because they do not fall under FAA Part 101 below or that they have a radio tracker.

Carries a payload package that weighs more than four pounds and has a weight/size ratio of more than three ounces per square inch on any surface of the package, determined by dividing the total weight in ounces of the payload package by the area in square inches of its smallest surface;

Carries a payload package that weighs more than six pounds;

Carries a payload, of two or more packages, that weigh a total of more than 12 pounds; or

Uses a rope or other device for suspension of the payload that requires an impact force of more than 50 pounds to separate the suspended payload from the balloon.

HAL5 Presentation Talking points

Introduce ourselves

Describe Makers Local 256

Describe the contest

Review rules

Describe how we're going to compete

If it's still at the shop, show that piece of paper we drew a diagram on

Rustle up support for the project:

People are welcome to join

Donations of money and gear are appreciated

Sketches

3/1/2010

Lessons Learned

Use your resources wisely, what is reported as a way to do it is not always the best way.